Indiana dropped its second straight recreation within the Battle 4 Atlantis. Whereas not as unhealthy as Wednesday’s 28-point drubbing towards Louisville, the Hoosiers fell 89-73 to Gonzaga.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the loss to the Bulldogs:
Indiana’s protection falters once more
Indiana’s protection provided little resistance within the paint for the second straight recreation.
Gonzaga received what it needed when it needed on the rim. The Bulldogs shot 56.8 p.c on 2s and 64 p.c on dunks and layups.
The Hoosiers are enjoying three gamers – Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Reneau and Oumar Ballo – who’re 6-foot-9 or taller and have little versatility defensively.
Ballo and Reneau wrestle to protect away from the basket and Mgbako has regressed defensively over the previous couple of video games. Indiana’s guards, outdoors of Kanaan Carlyle for a quick interval on Thursday, haven’t pressured the ball properly within the Bahamas.
Via two video games in Battle 4 Atlantis, IU’s protection has surrendered 178 factors and is void of identification. There isn’t a cohesion, communication or plan to get stops persistently. Until that modifications, Indiana will proceed to be uncovered towards energy convention groups.
This was Indiana’s fifth straight loss in a impartial court docket recreation by 16 or extra factors
Indiana’s performances in impartial court docket video games relationship again to final season have been disastrous.
Outdoors of a win towards a rudderless Louisville group in New York final November and a slender win towards Penn State within the 2024 Huge Ten event, the Hoosiers have been crushed in impartial court docket video games.
Final season, IU was crushed by 20 by UConn, 28 by Auburn and 27 by Nebraska in impartial court docket video games.
This season’s outcomes have continued the development of enjoying poorly in neutral-court video games. Louisville beat Indiana by 28 and Gonzaga gained at present by 16.
In 12 months 4 of Mike Woodson’s tenure, Indiana is much from aggressive towards elite groups in impartial court docket video games.
Indiana was down by double figures the complete second half and took a complete of 5 second half 3-point makes an attempt
In a recreation the place it wanted to generate extra offense to have an opportunity to get again into the sport, Indiana continued its indifference to taking 3-pointers within the second half towards Gonzaga.
Fairly than working motion to liberate its perimeter gamers for appears to be like, the Hoosiers continued to pound the ball inside.
Indiana took a complete of 5 3-point makes an attempt within the second half of a recreation the place it trailed by double figures for the complete half.
Woodson repeatedly spoke within the preseason of a extra trendy offense specializing in ball motion and 3-pointers. It hasn’t materialized, and it’s the identical model and offense as a season in the past.
Via six video games, Indiana ranks 336th nationally within the proportion of its area objectives makes an attempt which can be 3-pointers.
Defensive rebounding isn’t emphasised and stays a serious deficiency
For the second straight season, Indiana deploys one of many nation’s tallest lineups every recreation.
For the second straight season, Indiana has been a mediocre defensive rebounding group. On Thursday, Indiana allowed Gonzaga to seize 13 offensive rebounds and rating 23 second-chance factors.
The Hoosiers don’t block out and infrequently stand and watch whereas the opposition beats them to the ball. There’s no urgency or emphasis on cleansing up the defensive glass.
After Louisville grabbed 37.9 p.c of its missed photographs on Wednesday, Gonzaga grabbed 39.4 p.c of its missed photographs on Thanksgiving Day.
As of Thursday evening, Indiana ranks 270th within the nation in defensive rebounding proportion.
Mike Woodson’s clarification for IU’s struggles falls flat
Within the postgame press convention following Thursday’s loss, Woodson was requested about concern from the fanbase concerning the group’s play within the Bahamas.
Right here was Woodson’s reply: “Nicely once more, proper now my focus is on our group and a brand new group that’s received seven new gamers that we’re nonetheless attempting to work issues out and work by means of it. I’m gonna maintain dishing it ‘til I get this group the place I feel it ought to be.”
That reply falls flat.
Whereas it’s early within the season, the truth that IU has seven new gamers isn’t distinctive or unusual in school basketball at present. Groups throughout the nation routinely have seven (or extra) new gamers on their roster every year with the switch portal.
Indiana’s opponent on Wednesday, Louisville, has a totally new roster and beat the Hoosiers soundly.
Woodson handpicked this roster from the portal and to date, the outcomes have been underwhelming. Until that modifications, the grumbling from Indiana’s passionate fanbase will solely develop louder.
Filed to: Gonzaga Bulldogs
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